Multiple-receiver dispensing apparatus.



W. MILLAHD.-

MULIIPLE RECEIVER DISPENSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC.23.. 1909.

1,159,245. I Patented Nov. 2, 1915. I

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w. MILLARD.

MULTIPLE RECEIVER DISPENSING APPARATUS- i APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1.909. I

1,159,245.. v Patented Nov. 2, 1915;

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rrnn s're'rns rn'rsnr WILLIAM MILLAB-D, NEW YORK, N. Y.

MULTIPLE-RECEIVER DISPENSING APPARATUS.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed December 23, 1909. Serial No. 534,704.

Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following 1s a specification.

In the dispensing of articles of considerable size by such apparatus as automatic vending machines, it becomes a serious problem to provide a receiver or magazine in which the articles are .stored, and which will hold a sufiicient supply to render frequent renewal unnecessary and yet not in some of its dimensions occupy an excessive space.

The present invention overcomes the'dlfficulty by means of an apparatus in which the articles, in this'instance drinking cups, are dispensed from compactly arranged multiple receivers.

The invention also relates to the means for delivering the articles from the receivers in which they are stored.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 isa front elevation of one embodiment of my in-j vention with a portion of the receiving tubes broken away; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough on the line 22 of Fig. 1; .Fig; 3 is a top plan view of the base and delivery portion of'the apparatus with the receivers removed, parts being broken away; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the bottom of theapparatus on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the upper delivery-disk; Fig. '6 is a side elevation of said disk; Fig. 7 is a top plan view .of the dividing member or spider, and Figs.

8 and 9 are details in plan and sidaelevation of the coin-controlled mechanism.

Like reference characters are applied to i like parts in all figures.

Abase 20, which may be of cast metal and conveniently of cylindrical form, is closed at its top by a plate 21 in which are a suitable number of circular openings 22, in this case five, equally spaced about the 'plate. Each opening is surrounded by a flange 23 furnishing a socket, and in these sockets and extending vertically are seated receivers each consisting of a preferably cylindrical tube 24. The internal diameter of each tube is such'that it will properly receive cups 0, which may eachbe formed from paraflinpaper in the shape of the frustum of a cone, having about its open end a narrow flange c.

The cups are nested one within another so that a considerable number occupy a comparatively small spice, and are introduced into the upper ends of the receivers with their open or. flanged portions down, formmg a stack, as is particularly shown in Fig.

4 of the drawings,'and in this inverted position effectually excluding dust and like contaminating matter. The height of the receivers is sufiicient to enable each to contain its fractional part of the entire supply, WlllCh may be verygreat, therebeing but a portion of the tubes illustrated. The tops of these tubes or receivers are closed by a cap 24 which may be secured or locked in place in any desired manner, this not being shown.

From the center of the plate 21 depends a shaft 25 upon which is rotatably mounted delivery means for the cups. In the present instance two annular plates or disks are employed, the upper 26, cooperating directly with the lower open ends of the receivers. The plate 26 rests in an annular recess 27 extending about the upper portion of the base, while the lower plate 28 fits in an intermediate cylindrical portion, there being formed between the two plates, a chamber 29, the vertical width of which is determined by the length of a sleeve 30. This may be formed integrally with the plate 26 and upon its opposite extremity the" plate 28 is threaded.

through an opening in the base-plate 21, and

may be protected by a'housing 35 which provides one bearing for the shaft 34, this being also journaled m a flange of the plate 21.

Just outside the base is fixed a crank 36 to be turned by the user of the apparatus in securing. a cup. I I

The upper surface of the disk 26 as it travels below the receivers 24 furnishes a closure therefor and a support for the cups in all, while opposite surfaces upon said disk cooperate with the flanges of the lower or terminal cups in successive receivers to remove them. This article-withdrawing. or, as

it may be considered, primary delivery means, is situated at each side of a delivery opening 34, the width of which is nearly that of the receiver openings and which has a dimension circumferentially of the disk somewhat greater than said openings. In front of the forward side of said deliveryopenin or that toward the direction in which it travels, the upper surface of the disk is beveled or downwardly inclined at 38, leading to the withdrawing surface. This latter surface is furnished by the upper walls 39 of grooves 40, 40 at opposite sides of the opening 37, these inclined or cam-surfaces contacting with the upper side of a terminal cup-flange and diverging from the top surface of the disk 26, upon a portion 41 of which at each side of the opening 37 the lower face of the flange of the succeeding cup rests to support the balance of the stack during the deli very-operation. 1

In the lower disk 28 is an opening-42 which may be in the form of a sector equal in area to nearly one-fifth of' the disk-surface and being of greater width at its cen- 4 tral portion than the receiver-openings 22.

This disk 28 and its opening may be considered as a secondary delivery means. The

openings 37 and 42 are not vertically alined, I

but come opposite successive receiver-openings at different periods of their rotary movement.- Below the disk 28 the base is provided with a wall 43 curved downwardly and inwardly from the edge of the disk to furnish a chamber narrowing to a circular discharge-opening 44 through the side of the base below the crank 36.

In theannular chamber '29 between the disks is a dividing member or spider, having acentral cylindrical portion 45 surrounding the sleeve 30 and radially extending wings or partitions 46 equal in number to the receivers and lying between them, so that the chamber 29 is divided symmetrically into five compartments. The dividing member is held against rotation by'the engagement of its wings with recesses formed between pairs of projections 47 from the wall of the basechamber 29. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be noted that when the primary or withdrawing delivery-opening 37 is in alinement with one of the compartments formed between the wings, the secondary deliveryopening 42 registers with a second compartment to the rear of it, there being a space be- .tween them. 7

The apparatus preferably operates under the control of a coin or check, and for this purpose mechanism is provided which permits the delivery mechanism to be rotated sufliciently to withdraw a cup from a receiver into one of the holding compartments between the disks, and to eject from another compartment into the discharge portion 43 of the base a cup which has been previously removed from another receiver. 'As' this mechanism is not essential to the present invention it is not illustrated fully, but its general operation will be understood by reference to Figs. 8 andn9 of the drawings. In the top plate 21 adjacent to the crank and discharge-opening is a slot 48, the size.

about the edge of the disk 26 and being adapted to supportthe coin in a vertical position; The bottoms of the recesses are closed by the lower wall of the base recess 27 ,sof that the 'coin stands with its edge just above the upper surface of the plate 26. At one point in the rotation of the delivery member each coin-carrying recess is brought over a chute 49 leading through the base to a suitable coin-receptacle or bank, not here illustrated, and through which it falls after it has completed its work. Pivoted in a depression at the side ,of therecess 27, just to the rear of the slot 48, is a pawl 50 provided with a finger 51 extending over the top of the disk 26 and drawn into engage ment with it by a spring 52. When any one of the coin-carrying recesses 49 registers with the slot 48 the pawl-finger rests in one of five long notches 53 formed in the disk 26 and normally preventing its rotation in either direction beyond a very limited amount. Between'the notches 53 are aseries of short notches or teeth 54 over which the pawl will ride freely only in the forward movement of the delivery member, they entirely preventing reverse travel.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from what has gone before,'but it may be briefly said that assuming it to have been previously operated, so that a cup is resting in a compartment of the chamber 29 between the openings 37 and 42, a person desiring, to secure said cup inserts a cent in' rotation of the delivery member may therefore proceed under the influenceof the;

crank, the pawl riding freely over the teeth 4 54, advancing the disks 26 and 1-28 in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3, 8 and 9. This brings the secondary delivery-opening 42 beneath the compartment containing the .cup, which therefore falls through it into the base-chamber 43, and, being deflected by the curved surface to the discharge-opening 44, it may be readily removed by the pur-' chaser. As this is occurring, the primary delivery-opening 37- is advanced beneath the receiver-opening 22 with which it is at that time coiiperating; The lowermost cup of thls stack is directed down; the inclined surface 38 and' its flangeis caught at opposite sides by the withdrawing cam-surfaces 39, the succeeding on of the stack being supported by' the un er side of its flange upon the separated surfaces 41. When the flange of the cup being withdrawn has reached'the lower ends of the grooves 40 it is entirely free from that-next above with which it was nested, and falls through the opening 37 into the compartment in advance of'thesecondary delivery-opening 42. The operation of delivery and withdrawal is now completed,

and the pawl finger drops into the next long notch 53 restoring the elements to their normal condition, with the sole difference that a new pair of delivery-compartments is brought into use. Upon the insertion of a second coin the operation may berepeated as before, until the cups, one by one, have been withdrawn from all the receivers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a dispensing apparatus for dispens ing paper cups, each cup being provided with an outwardly directed flange at its mouth, the combination with a plurality of containers, each being adapted to hold a stack of nested cups, of movable means for successively withdrawing the lowermost cups from the respective containers, the

remainder of the stack from which the cup is being withdrawn being supported by said means during the withdrawal operation and movable means arranged to deliver a cup withdrawn from a' stack during the operation of the withdrawing means on another stack. I 2. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination with a plurality of' receivers for.

storing articles, of movable primary delivery means for successively engaging articles in different'receiversand exerting a force to withdraw them therefrom, and secondary means for finally delivering the articles, the

primary delivery means furnishing a closure for all the'receivers except that from which the article is being withdrawn and the secondary delivery means guarding said open receiver.

3. The combination withan articlereceiver, of movable primary means for withdrawing articles from the receiver, fixed means for temporarily holding the articles after this delivery, and movable secondary means for finally delivering the articlesfrom said holding means.

4. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing paper cups, each cup being provided with a flange at its mouth, comprising a plurality of containers, each container being adapted to hold a stack of nested cups, movable means for withdrawing the lowermost cup from the stack in one of said containers,

. said withdrawing meansbeing commonto all of said containers and arranged to successively cooperate therewith, and delivery rality of articles.

means .operable with said withdrawing means to deliver a cup withdrawn from one container concurrently with the withdrawal of a cup'from another container. 4

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular receiver, primary delivery means situated adjacent to one end of the receiver for withdrawing articles therefrom, secondary delivery means cooperating with the primary delivery means, and stationary means situated between the primary and secondary delivery means for holding a plu- 6. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing paper cups, each cup being provided with:

a flange at its mouth, comprising a plurality of containers, each container being adapted toliold a. stack of nested cups, movable means for withdrawing the lowermost cup from the stack in one of said containers,

said withdrawing means being common to all of said containers and arranged to $1.10? cessively cooperate therewith, delivery means operable with said withdrawing means to deliver a cup withdrawn from one container concurrently with the withdrawal of a cup from another container, and means for supporting a withdrawn cup prior to the functioningv of the delivery means.

7. The combination with an articlereceiver, ofarticle-delivery means compris- 1 livery-openings, and relatively fixed partitions situated between the members and furnishing compartments, the openings in.-

different members being simultaneously alined with different compartments.

nation of a plurality of containers, each adapted to hold a stack of nested flanged .cups, movable means for engaging the cup flanges at a plurality of circumferential spaced positions and mechanism for moving said means to successively cooperate with the respective containers to effect the withdrawal of the lowermost cup from the stack.

9. A dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular receiver, two disks spaced from one another and cooperating with an end of the ing separated movable members having de- 8. In a dispensing apparatus, the combiadjacent to the opening, means for rotating the disks, and means situated between .the

disksfor separating the articles from one another.

11. A dispensing apparatus comprising a hold a stack of nested cups, movable means for separating a terminal cup from a stack and means for moving said separating means to successively cooperate with the respective containersto remove a cup therefrom.

11. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of containers, each adapted to hold a stack of nested cups, movable means for loosening a terminal cup from a stack to permit the same to drop away from the stack by gravity and means for moving said cup loosening means to successively cooperate with the respective containers, and cup delivery means concurrently operable with said loosening means.

15. The combination with a plurality of receivers each adapted to contain a stack of nested cups in inverted position, each cup having a flange surrounding its mouth, of movable means for supporting said cups, said means being provided with surfaces adapted to engage with the flange of the lowermost cup in a stack and hold said cup during thepartial movement of said sup- )OI'tlH means and means for releasin said cup from said holding means'and effecting the delivery thereof.-

16. In combination with a plurality of receivers, each adapted to contain a stack of nested paper cups in inverted position, each cup being formed with an outwardly directed flange at its mouth, rotatable means for supporting the cups within said receivers, said supporting means being provided with a delivery orifice having means formed contiguous thereto and adapted to engage with the flange of the lowermost cup in one of said receivers and withdraw the same from the stack, said engaging means holding said cup during the partial movement of said supporting means, and means for effecting the release of said cup from said engaging means upon the further movement of said supporting means, and fixed means for effecting the delivery of said cup upon the continued movement of said supporting means.

1.7. The combination with a plurality of containers, each adapted to receive a stack of nested paper cups in inverted position, each cup being formed with an outwardly projecting flange at its mouth, of a rotatable support for the cups, said support being provided with a delivery orifice, means positioned on each side of said orifice and arranged to engage with the flange of the lowermost cup of a stack and separate the same from engagement with the remaining cups upon a partial rotation of'said support, said engaging means holding the cup in engagement therewith during said partial rotation of the support, means for eflecting the release of said cup from said engaging means during the further rotation of said support, movable means for effecting the delivery of the released cup, and fixed means interposed between said delivery means and said supporting means whereby the released cup is brought to delivery position and delivered, upon the continued rotation of said supporting means.

18. The combination withan article receiver, of a rotatable delivery plate provided with an opening arranged to cooperate with the receiver, means arranged contiguous to said opening and adapted to withdraw an article-from said receiver and hold the article during the partial rotation of said plate, means for eifecting the'release of the article from said withdrawing means during the further rotation of said plate, delivery means arranged to rotate concurrently with said plate and provided with a delivery outlet, and fixed means interposed between saidplate and said delivery means whereby upon ,the continued rotation of said plate and said delivery means, the article will be discharged through said delivery outlet.

19. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of stationary containers, each adapted to hold a stack of nested cups and rotatable means adapted to successively cooperate with the respective stacks to effect a relative movement between the cup stack and the terminal cup in a direction longitudinal of the cup stack to withdraw the terminal cup from the stack.

Signed at New York, (borough of Manhattan), in the county and State of New York, this 14 day of December, 1909.

WILLIAM MILLARD.

\Vitnesses:

EDNA A. STOKES, LAWRENCE W. LUELLEN. 

